Modular electrical assembly and removable wedge therefor
AssigneeElectro-Wire Products, Inc.
InventorsMark W. Rei, Allen F. VanDerStuyf, Christopher J. Volpe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular electrical connector assembly for use with the wiring systems of vehicles. The assembly includes a plurality of modular blocks, each having one or more tapering mortises formed on the sides thereof and a plurality of tubular, singled walled, double tenon wedges which are insertable into the mortises to assemble the blocks together. Preferably, wedges are formed with an upwardly tapering ramp disposed on each tenon which terminates in an upwardly depending stop surface for engagement with a downwardly depending stop surface formed on the mortises of the modular blocks to prevent relative verticle motion between the blocks and the wedges.
Claims18
A modular electrical connector assembly comprising:
- a plurality of parallelepieped modules, each having top and bottom surfaces and two pairs of opposed sides, and each including at least one inwardly tapering mortise formed on one of said sides and extending for a distance on said side toward said top surface and said bottom surface;
- socket means formed on the top surface of each of said plurality of modules for insertion of an electrical connection element therein;
- and
- a plurality of resilient tubular wedges, each configured to include a pair of opposed, outwardly flaring tenons for mating engagement with said at least one mortise to form a dovetail joint therewith.
The assembly of claim wherein the coefficient of thermal expansion of said wedges is greater than that of said modules.
A wedge for interlocking a plurality of modular blocks together to form an electrical connector assembly, each of said blocks including at least one inwardly tapering mortise formed on a side thereof, said wedge comprising:
- a hollow, resilient, single walled body with opposed, outer faces, each of said faces including an outwardly flaring tenon formed thereon for engagement with said mortise to form a dovetail joint therebetween and an upwardly tapering ramp formed on said tenon and terminating in an upwardly depending stop surface for engagement with a downwardly depending stop surface formed on said mortise of each of said blocks to prevent relative vertical movement between said wedge and said blocks.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.